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Towards the end of last month I noticed some unfamiliar charges on our checking account. I checked with the husband and immediately called Schwab. There were 9 fraudulent charges in two different names pulled directly from the account. Apparently I had been paying for someone's internet (and hopefully cable, $200/month!!) for the last 3 months. I hadn't paid attention because it's the same internet company we use and we just moved last month. Mid March they got bold, there was a cluster of charges mostly to debt collection agencies. The 10th charge was most worrisome: it was my husband's name. An E-Pay to a county directly north of where we live. I don't think the fraud guy believed it wasn't our charge so he sent me on a hunt. Once I got on the phone with the right office and person the municipal office was surprisingly helpful. My fraud guy sent them an email stating my account was being shut down and they immediately reversed the charge. It was a phone payment for "someone else's traffic citation."
Even though we use a CC for 99% of purchases, going on 2 weeks without a checking account is beyond inconvenient. Schwab does allow withdrawals during this process but they must be approved over the phone. I'm over here mid semester, buying furniture for our new home, and trying to deal with this bank stuff. Too many balls in the air. I've never been so thankful I never shut down a secondary account. I'd had direct deposit set up before we were married and never bothered to make the switch. There was only about $2k in there but in the future I'm going to plan to have about that much in there at all times. It has come in handy. ***** for a picture of how much we take for granted having cash on hand I actually messaged my college aged brothers (on IG, they respond faster on there than text!) asking for $100. True Millennials, I received a notification the funds had been sent about 45 seconds after I "made the ask." Leaning on the bros for fast cash ::face palm::
Even though it's more than likely the information was stolen from the front of a check I immediately switched to Last Pass and set up a VPN. The husband doesn't keep passwords for bank accounts, etc. but I'm hoping he'll do the same for his email. Since that 10th transaction was in his name the next thing we'll need to do is start investigating identity theft. My fraud guy (total BFF by now) said he can send some resources once it's all said and done but I thought I'd come here to ask if anyone has been through this and if they have any advice. Moving forward, are there other ways to protect personal security?
Even though we use a CC for 99% of purchases, going on 2 weeks without a checking account is beyond inconvenient. Schwab does allow withdrawals during this process but they must be approved over the phone. I'm over here mid semester, buying furniture for our new home, and trying to deal with this bank stuff. Too many balls in the air. I've never been so thankful I never shut down a secondary account. I'd had direct deposit set up before we were married and never bothered to make the switch. There was only about $2k in there but in the future I'm going to plan to have about that much in there at all times. It has come in handy. ***** for a picture of how much we take for granted having cash on hand I actually messaged my college aged brothers (on IG, they respond faster on there than text!) asking for $100. True Millennials, I received a notification the funds had been sent about 45 seconds after I "made the ask." Leaning on the bros for fast cash ::face palm::
Even though it's more than likely the information was stolen from the front of a check I immediately switched to Last Pass and set up a VPN. The husband doesn't keep passwords for bank accounts, etc. but I'm hoping he'll do the same for his email. Since that 10th transaction was in his name the next thing we'll need to do is start investigating identity theft. My fraud guy (total BFF by now) said he can send some resources once it's all said and done but I thought I'd come here to ask if anyone has been through this and if they have any advice. Moving forward, are there other ways to protect personal security?
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